Food trip: Mama Chit's

My brother just turned 23 (yak old!!) last November 7, and we haven't celebrated yet until yesterday when all of a sudden Mother superior told me to look for a good place around Marikina where we could eat and celebrate Panget's (brother) birthday. Soooo I immediately suggested Firuz which based on Roni's blog (reviews on food places in Marikina) is quite good and affordable..and different since it serves Mediterranean cuisine. And the other choice was Mama Chit's since one friend suggested before that they serve good burgers. After my jogging session and the family's badminton game, we drove along JP Rizal to find Firuz, but unfortunately it was closed :( 

Good thing, Mama Chit's was along the way.

The place is not that big, which I think is okay since it's a coffee house. It also has a unique theme (though I wasn't able to take pictures from the inside since we dined outside) - kind of retro. The walls have paintings and black and white pictures, and there's this coke-in-can (not only coke I think) banderitas, and mind you, the coke-in-cans weren't ordinary, I thinks some were from outside the country. Also they have lots of antiques or collectibles. 

There's this huge jar which is half-filled with coins, coke bottles from all over the world, and plate numbers (some were chinese) hanged outside. It's a fun place. (and a good photo ops place HAHA!)

Since they're famous for their cheeseburger, we ordered 4 (me,panget, dadi/mami, kaye-cousin), and Ate ordered the turkey sandwich and Hungarian sandwich for the parents. We also tried their Combo pizza, onion rings and french fries. 

Mama Chit's cheeseburger - P100

 The cheeseburger was very good - the patty was tender and tasty, and I like the vegetables since you can't really taste it, it's like they've washed it several times it's as if you're eating a crispy leaf (HAHA!) though I don't know with the cucumber - it was so big and thick I didn't dare eat it. AND the serving's enough, I mean we thought it was cheap for a price of P100. The turkey and Hungarian sandwiches were also good though I liked the Hungarian better since the turkey's similar to chicken hehe. The onion ring(s) was mushy inside while the fries was unsalted (though it's good since its soft inside and crispy outside). The pizza was okay, the cheese gave a different flavor - we think it's Parmesan but better haha! and I like that it has a very thin crust - very thin and crispy! 

Turkey sandwich ;)

Hungarian Sandwich ;)

combo pizza - P330

So there! We really had a great time at Mama Chit's and I think my dad enjoyed it the most - he was murmuring "sarap..very good..sarap..very good" most of the time haha! He really enjoyed the hungarian sandwich :)) And then I realized, that everything we lost during our jogging/badminton session was replaced with more calories - though Panget said "at least may cardio exercise pa rin" hahaha!

Strength under control

I've had this burden for quite some time now, after everything that has happened, and the people involved are close to my heart, it's kind of stressful that you think of them every night, and pray for them and still they choose to stay where they are and just fade away. Sometimes, I ask God why do I have to be burdened by other people's problem, especially when I'm not directly involved. Then I realize, I am His child, and that He is teaching me to become like Jesus. I've been reading on the New testament books lately and I'm just amazed at how Jesus treated people - He was just perfect. He was compassionate, gentle, patient - He is full of love. All of which are traits I don't have. Due to recent news that (I think) broke my heart a little, I felt nothing, it's like I am so dry inside I don't know what to feel or think. Take note, the issue does not concern me - I'm like, why am I feeling this way?. If I weren't a child of God, I'd be indifferent, and I couldn't care less. But no, things change - they need to change, I realize that not everything is about me, or should be about me - everything is about Him. And caring for people, it's all about Him - it represents Jesus. It's difficult to pray for someone when you have prayed so much for so long and nothing's changed - and I remember, every time I hear news about that person, I always tell God that I will not give up. I am always reminded by that verse that told me "Steph, you are doing well";

Nehemiah 6:3

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

³ So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”

However, n nights ago, I cried myself to sleep because I didn't know what to do for that person, or what to pray for, and I felt that I wasn't doing my task well, the one thing that He asked me to do - that is, to care for people (or for that person) - I was a failure (or so I think), the burden is so heavy that I almost quit another ministry (good thing, I didn't let my emotions take over). And all I kept saying was "Lord, Ikaw na bahala kay *insert name*, Ikaw lang talaga ang makakagawa ng paraan.." My heart was so heavy that night, mixed emotions, a part of me wanted to care and to not care or be mad, and I can't do anything about it but pray.

And then I realized that maybe the reason I was so hurt is because I care. I care to the point that I don't want that person to stay where she is - I wanted that person to accept the consequences, I wanted that person to forgive herself and accept the forgiveness that God offers. I wanted that person to help herself so that she can learn to accept help from other people and most especially from God. I want her to enjoy the life that God has planned for her. And because I know for a fact that she is better than all of this - better than all that has happened. I want her to realize all the great things that God has for her. But the question is how? Then I had a plan in my mind, either I call or visit the person - things that I don't like doing by myself. After everything that has happened, I became silent when it comes to that person, I have a lot of things in my mind that I wanted to tell her, but I just can't say it - and I thought maybe I was afraid that I would hurt that person even more, 'cause being the balahura that I am, when it comes to talking to people and giving advice, I tend to just speak my mind and not choose the words, in the end I say things that are hurtful, though it's the truth I know that it hurts the people I care about just by telling it to their faces (though I would like to believe that I am effective when it comes to that issue..or not). And I am afraid of what would happen if I tell that person everything that's on my mind and it comes out as balahura as I can ever be. I am still praying which is best, make the call or visit. I think doing both is best. But I'm praying that God would prepare my heart and my mouth - to say the things that He wanted me to say to that person, not the things that I want to say. I'm also praying for the right time. 

I realized that ever since I started with the task God gave me, He gave me these people not only to help them, it was more of the lessons that I am supposed to learn, lessons about people, about Him and about myself. I realized that God didn't give me this task just for the sake of it, or because He wanted to burden me with other people's problems. He was revealing Himself to me, and He is teaching me about myself, it's like He wanted me to realize what kind of person I am and what kind of person He wants me to be - like Jesus. It's like He's telling me "steph, this is how people are, and this is you..I love you just the way you are but my love for you is so great that I want you to be better - I want you to become like my Son, Jesus Christ.". God wants me to be compassionate, He wants me to care for others and not be the selfish and self-centered balahura that I am ..was, He wants me to be gentle when dealing with people, gentle with the words I use that could break or make that person. He wants me to learn not to be selfish, to learn how to carry someone's burden and share the burden. As written in 

Galatians 6

New International Version (NIV)

6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. ² Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

He wants me to realize that everything is about Him, and all the things that He's teaching me is not only to help me but mainly so I can glorify and honor Him - and make Him known. 

I was looking for the definition of GENTLE in the handbook that was given to us during the JZONE leadership conference. It says "strength under control". There's so much more about gentleness and compassion that I need to learn. And I came across a handout entitled "Restoring the Fallen", and what struck me most when I browsed it was that the ultimate goal in restoring the fallen is not to restore the fallen but to HONOR GOD - to restore God's honor. In the end, God is glorified whatever it is that we intend to do. And hopefully, He will be honored with whatever He wanted me to do for that person. 

And after everything, I am restored. The cross is the only reminder of how great His love for me is - that I am saved and I am forever grateful..and that by His grace am I able to serve Him. All for His glory.

Food trip: Yellow Halo

It's been awhile since I've done some writing that is not at all related to school and since I'm on a semestral break, I've decided to write a blog about my recent food escapade which involve vegetables and <500 calorie.

It was an impromptu adventure with my friend who happened to have won Saab Magalona's twitter contest giving her gift certificates to Yellow Halo (the restaurant owned by Saab's siblings - Maxene and Elmo). So there, my friend (whom I think saw my plurk post about me going to Ortigas) asked me where I was and told me that she had GCs to a restaurant, and being the patay gutom that I am, I immediately replied and though she told me that the resto's a far from where I was, I still said YES to coming with her because (1) it's free and (2) it's food (who wouldn't want a free meal ayt?). We decided to meet at SM Megamall and walked to Strata100 where the resto was - we kind of had an adventure 'cause she was not sure where it was located but good thing there were good people around to ask for directions :) And then there was that building with the big signage "STRATA 100" hoooray we made it! Oh and by the way, while we were walking, we had this conversation about the Magalonas, that maybe we would get to see them ;) 

The place was small yet cozy, a typical "cafe" wherein you could just hangout and have a good meal with friends. And I like that the place was kind of 'modern' and the color yellow just makes it look like a happy place. My friend went to the counter to ask about the GCs, fortunately there's no limit to the amount of GCs that can be redeemed, then we sat at a 2-seater table near the counter and looked at their menu. It was interesting, besides the name and the price of the meal, the calories were also written - and the catch was that their food has less than 500 calories - it's a guilt-free food experience. 

So we ordered, one for every category except for the healthy plates (we decided not to order rice meals) - we had tuna whole wheat pasta, for the sandwiches, we had chicken fajita and tomato with basil and cottage cheese, and one of the vegetable salads which has fruits in it. Then I ordered Mango shake (I was afraid of the other beverages, like the apple wheatgrass-- didn't sound so good to me haha) and my friend had Watermelon basil. 

Chicken Fajita 

The Chicken fajita was okay, though I didn't like that it had a lot of bell pepper in it (or maybe just the part that I had). It was good as whole since the bell pepper, onion, chicken and the 'sauce' complemented each other, though the chicken kind of lack some seasoning 'cause it didn't have that distinct taste when I ate it separately.  I like the tomato with basil and cottage cheese sandwich better - the cheese made it creamy!

Tomato with basil and cottage cheese 

The pasta was my favorite! I think the tuna was grilled which gave a different yet very delicious taste. And they are very generous with the proportions - the tuna, vegetables and the pasta. It was more than enough for us (or maybe because we weren't that hungry haha). I also like that it was spicy - enough to have a slight tingle in the tongue ;)

Tuna whole wheat  (P150)

Lastly, the salad. I'm not really a fan of vegetable salads and I only eat the lettuce most of the time haha! Soooo.. the salad was..okay for me, though I like the dressing - it's a mix of everything (we think haha), though my friend said that the pomelo was kind of stale.

salad with the fruits ;) forgot the name (P130)

drinks + Frenchly (P65/drink)

Overall, it was fun! I really am glad that my friend invited me to this place - after everything, I felt that for a moment there I was healthy and happy.

It's funny how we mentioned before about seeing the two Magalonas at their own restaurant - and we did HAHAHA! Though we didn't get the chance to have a picture because they were busy shooting for a segment on some talk show (i think) and later that day, I saw a tweet from Pia Magalona about Elmo doing the Star Myx present at the Yellow Halo.